Itinerary

The flight


Our trip to Japan for Autumn was not a long desire, rather an impulse purchase in response to a crazy flight deal. OzBargin often shares random cheap flight deals that are limited in time and numbers. We saw a few different deals over the span of a month before we decided to jump on our ANA direct flights for about $700 each (return). The only catch with using these epic deals is that they will often be less favourable flight times and they are on specific days so it kind of dictates the length of your trip, and when.


If you can be flexible, the amount of money you can save is crazy. Our exact flights in economy went up to almost $1.7k each.


If you are set on very specific dates and times, I personally recommend using google flight tracker to set your dates and location and receive updates via emails when the flight prices change. This will pick up special deals and allow you to see if the flight price fluctuates. I used google flights for my Mum’s recent trip to Canada which knocked off over $500/per person from what their travel agent was able to get.


For our flight to Japan, we had an overnight flight which is great in theory but a very rough sleep in economy so we were quite tired going into day one and eventually succumbed to an extended nap- I think we still fit plenty in though.

Tokyo


Hotel: MyStay Iibashi (via booking.com)

Pros: Pretty good location (close to trains) | Affordable | Comfortable | Lovely staff

Cons: Not super central to the things we wanted to do but super easy access to transport


Day one


We landed at 4:30am in Tokyo which meant we really got to hit the ground running- the only issue is in Japan, almost nothing is open before 10am. This trip we decided to pre-purchase esims from Ubigi which were super easy to activate and meant we were connected the moment we landed in Tokyo. This saved us so much money and time waiting in the airport in a huge line for an overpriced Sim card. The coverage was great in every place we went to.


We tackled the trains directly from the airport. This was really easy and clear and because of how early it was, there were no crowds on the trains. Usually the trains get extremely full making it hard to carry a large amount of luggage- particularly in a big group. We dropped our luggage at our hotel which was MyStay Iilabashi (FlexInn) so we could stay luggage free. All of our hotels accept luggage before check-in and I personally have never been to a hotel in Japan that doesn’t allow this. It is much easier and cheaper than using luggage lockers which can be found at most major train stations in the main city centers. 


Our first adventure was to hit the shops around the Shibuya crossing. As it was still too early and we hadn’t had breakfast, we went to the "Shibuya Tsutaya Share Lounge", a very niche snack and drink buffet on the 4th floor of the Shibuya Scramble Square overlooking the Shibuya crossing. You pay an entry free for unlimited drinks and snacks. There isn’t too much variety in the snacks but for us it was enough to fill up and allowed us to rest and watch the town come to life.


We wandered the streets and found a random kokeshi doll museum in a small alleyway where we got chatting to the manager who had studied English in Sydney for a year and then did a fun photobooth photoshoot called a ‘purikura’. 


We then went into an infamous PARCO building which is essentially like our Westfields but this one had all your essential anime, Nintendo and Pokémon stores in it. It was very busy and mainly full of tourists. We also checked out Miyashita Park which has luxury brands inside but a really cool rooftop green space and skatepark on the roof.


Danny is a massive vinyl lover, as am I by association so we browsed the 8 floors of the famous Tower Records Shibuya- picking up new and second hand vinyls (they also had cassettes and CDs if they are more your era).


At this point we were buggered from having little sleep on the plane and such an early start so we headed back to the hotel for an official check in and nap so we could head out in the evening for Dinner.


We saw the Sensoji Temple which is usually packed during the day with market stalls but much quieter in the evening. The grounds are still open and all the cool buildings are lit up until 11pm so it is still worth the visit. 


We had dinner at a Japanese curry chain called Cocos curry or on google maps ‘Ichibanya Co., Ltd.’. These chains are everywhere and serve a great range of curry options from extremely spicy to no spice at all (for the weaklings like me). You order via an iPad which makes the language barrier super manageable and if you have severe allergies like Danny (egg) and myself (shellfish) they have all allergen information viewable in English on the iPad. The food was cheap, easy and hit the spot every time and definitely came in handy in the smaller towns later in the trip.


Day two


Today was another shopping day and we had a mission to buy each other an outfit of our choosing. We headed to ‘Sunshine City’ which was a huge shopping complex that was way less busy than other more popular shopping complexes but had much more affordable stores and still had niche stores like kiddyland (for snoopy lovers), Pokémon store, Disney store and so many more…. Was that Thomas the Tank engine….? We found that although there were heaps of kawaii stores for girls, there were hardly any men's clothes- and definitely not street wear. We actually had a lot of trouble finding affordable but street menswear anywhere in Tokyo.


If you are a girl, it can also be difficult as most clothes are in F sizes (which means Free). This one size fits all doesn’t work for most body types. I am a healthy size 10 in Australia and most of the ‘F’ sizes were too small.


Reddit recommendations directed us to Harajuku for men's street styled clothes but again, very expensive but still cool to browse. We had lunch at this amazing vegan restaurant called ‘Vegan bistro Jangara’ which served possibly the best ramen of the trip (with no stress about our allergies). It was a pretty small place in Harajuku and had a 30min wait time but 10000% worth it. They serve both a lunch and dinner menu.


We spent the evening wandering around Akihabara- the electric gaming and anime city of Tokyo. We wandered around a range of stores looking at some mini figurines and other nerdy little bits and pieces. We went into a few different arcades including ‘HEY (Hirose Entertainment Yard) Taitothat’ which had almost exclusively cheap retro styled arcade games.


We finished with a famous Gigo arcade where we played a few rhythm and dance games including a dancing game which had people stopping to film Danny absolutely smashing it. 


We grabbed another light dinner at ‘Sukiya’ another chain which let you order on an iPad and had full allergen information available. Sukiya serves rice and meat bowls- so super simple but absolutely to die for (particularly when you are starving).



Favourite food spot



Top three tips

  • Avoid Akihabara at night (with kids in particular), there are a lot of Maid cafe workers that line almost every street which has really awful vibes. A lot of the arcades become 16+ after certain times as well.


  • Prepare to train around a lot, all the niches are divided in different cities. We picked up an IC card from a ticketing machine which I recommend doing day 1. These are like our opal cards and are valid across the country. 


  • Tokyo is  great place to get gifts and fun to browse but if you are wanting to go clothes shopping I personally feel that Osaka is better



Things we didn’t do this trip but are worth doing if it is your first time


  • Tokyo SkyTree (I personally love it at night)
  • Disneyland/ DisneySea (If you can only do one, definitely do DisneySea if you are older as they have better rides)
  • Round1 if you are looking for something to do late at night (sports/ arcade)
  • The Making of Harry Potter expo
  • TeamLab experiences 
  • Tokyo GoKarting


Illuminated red pagoda temple at Sensoji shrine in Asakusa, Tokyo glows against the dark night sky.
A person in traditional Japanese clothing walks through the illuminated corridors of Sensoji Temple at night.
Yellow display windows at Tower Records Shibuya store with illuminated signage and branding.
Japanese curry rice with sausage served on white plates shown in sequential photos on a dark wooden table.
A bowl of steaming hot noodle soup with vegetables and meat in a rich brown broth garnished with fresh herbs.
A player engages with a classic arcade cabinet game featuring neon blue lighting and retro gaming controls.

01 / 06

Osaka


Hotel: Hotel Hillarys Shinsaibashi (via lastminute.com)

Pros: BEST LOCATION | Lovely staff | Has an Onsen | Close to a station

Cons: Their breakfast isn’t great but luckily so much other food nearby


Day three


We caught the bullet train from Tokyo to Osaka very early in the morning to try and beat the crowds with our luggage (7:00am) but honestly it was still packed and we were heading to Shinagawa station which is a huge and very busy station. You need to book these tickets in advance (particularly in peak seasons with luggage) which you can do at Shinagawa station. We personally used Klook which was super easy and you get issued the tickets on the app which you scan directly into the gate. You pay $20 more via klook but it allows you the change times if needed and you can book it from anywhere which is super helpful.


We arrived in Osaka by 10am (most things open at 11am) so we dropped our bags to our hotel. Our hotel was a 3 minute walk Shinsaibashi-Suji Shopping Street and maybe a 15 minute walk to Namba. It was so central to everything we intended to do. Still on the hunt for some cool looking streetwear for Danny we hit up the America-mura neighbourhood which had some boutique street wear with everything from cheap to super expensive. Unlike Tokyo, most shops in Osaka can be seen on street level with multiple floors which makes it much easier to find the types of shops you are looking for. The America-mura neighbourhood is also your best bet for thrift shops including Kinji and Second street which have so much brand name stuff if that is your cup of tea. We also found a very fun pinball arcade called the Silver Ball Planet in this region and had so much fun on a range of machines including very old ones (10 yen plays) to brand new ones (100 yen plays). 


We had done so much walking and carrying heavy camera equipment so we decided to treat ourself to a massage in Namba. We booked online at a place called Yuraku which was relatively cheap but looked super dodgy. They had many 5 star reviews but this may be because they discount people who give those reviews so take that as you will. We both had a great time and felt amazing afterwards with our kidneys still in our body.


We also visited a street near Namba that sold a heap of really cheap kitchen wear called ‘Sennichimae Doguyasuji Shotengai’. We ended up picking up some cheap but beautiful bowls and cup pieces that were made in Japan. We honestly wish we brought more stuff home from here. 


In the evening we braved the crowds in the Dontobori area as we browsed the shops. We had dinner at another fantastic vegan ramen place called Vegan Ramen by Playpen Friends. This place was a little walk away from the Dontobori region so not as busy which was good as it meant we had fast service with no waiting times. We posed in front of the Glico Man- if you want this shot walk down onto the walkway by the water- it is way less crowded. We went into an infamous ‘don quijote’ store which had literally everything ever. A perfect place to pick up snacks and souvenirs for decent prices. We picked up self compression bags which were a god send that allows us to cram in so much more stuff into our suitcases. 


The Namba don quijote has a ferris wheel which we took a ride on, yes sure a tourist trap, but honestly worth it. The views were surprisingly epic!



Day four


Today we headed to the Katsuoji temple near Minoh to take a much needed break away from the hustle and bustle. This is a slightly more complex commute as you need to catch a train and a bus but it is all quite clear and easy if you have an IC card (which you will need for buses). This temple is famous for its daruma dolls which are fun, grumpy looking dudes that help tell your fortune. 

It was overcast but the rain held off for the most part. We got many fun photos- it was the first day we got to use our cameras properly so it was a lot of fun. They had a series of stamp stations around the temple grounds that when overlaid, created a really nice piece of art which will go straight into my scrapbook.


In the afternoon we explored Den-Den town which was a little further walk from Namba and is basically the Akihabara of Osaka. Here we rummaged around for some more second hand vinyls for next to nothing, looked at some mini figurines and picked up a few little gifts.


For dinner we wanted to try some Osaka delicacies which we could really have due to the batter having egg and the sauces having shellfish. We however managed to find a vegan version of takoyaki (Egg-batter, fried octopus balls) and Kushikatsu (skewers) at a fun punky restaurant called ‘OKO takoyaki vegan vegetarian glutenfree’. It was absolutely incredible and perfect for those with allergies/ intolerances.



Favourite food spot


  • ‘OKO takoyaki vegan vegetarian glutenfree’ was such a unique and fun place to eat. Run by a single woman, 4 floors, a trust pay system for drinks and writing on every surface in the building. Very fun.


Top three tips


  • Stay close to the hustle in Osaka, we stayed within walking distance to almost everything which made it easy to drop shopping back, have short rests and saved so much of our time from commuting.


  • Walk as far as you can from Shinsaibashi Station in the direction of Nara along that strip- It goes on forever and there are just so many niche places including the normal shopping, food galore, the kitchen ware and den den town all along the same strip.


  • If you are going to something like Osaka castle, the Aquarium (don’t recommend), and the Umeda sky building, book in advance as the queues are crazy long. I believe there is an Osaka Amazing pass which gives you access to a few of those


Things we didn’t do this trip but are worth doing if it is your first time


  • Osaka castle 
  • Minoh waterfall walk
  • Umeda Sky Building
  • Team Lab Botanical Gardens
  • Universal studios (identical to America)


Stone lanterns line a peaceful garden path at a Japanese temple under dappled sunlight and autumn foliage.
A series of connected photos showing a traditional Japanese temple pathway and architecture in a scenic setting.
A person in a cherry-print sweater poses in front of traditional red Japanese daruma dolls at a shrine.
A series of Japanese ema prayer plaques displayed at a shrine showing traditional wooden designs and calligraphy.
A series of bright orange torii gates line a gravel path in a Japanese garden with blooming yellow flowers.
The iconic Glico Running Man sign illuminates the vibrant Dotonbori district in Osaka at night.
Curved security mirrors mounted on walls show reflections of library bookshelves and aisles in multiple views.
A narrow hallway with yellow walls features illuminated signs for vegan and vegetarian food options at a restaurant.
Bowls of creamy ramen noodle soup with broth, vegetables and garnishes served on a rustic wooden table.

01 / 09

Kiso Valley


AirBNB: Cottage in Komagane (via AirBNB)

Pros: Lovely host with perfect english | Stunning mountain views | A full home

Cons: Not too close to the things we were wanting to do


Day five (travel day)


We got up pretty early today and had a cheeky Maccas breakfast (breakfast is hard with an egg allergy). We headed to Shin-Osaka station to pick up our hire car to begin phase two of our holiday. It was a Newer Toyota Yaris that we hired from Toyota which was amazingly fuel efficient. There are so many Toyotas to hire from but we chose our hire location so we could drop the car to a different location at the end of our trip and because they offered ETC cards (the toll gate cards). Not all places offer this so you need to look around if that is something you need to do. 


Driving around Japan is relatively easy and very similar to Australia minus some interesting road signs and traffic in the city (but honestly no worse than Sydney). We left Osaka straight away to head to a beautiful waterfall trail called ‘Akame 48 Waterfalls’ in Mie. This broke up the drive into the Kiso valley region and was just beautiful. Unfortunately the Autumn colours were a little late to bloom in this part of Japan but it was still very alive and green which was just as nice. This walk was so quiet with only a handful of other people walking the trail- with the majority being Japanese. This detour was an absolutely perfect way to kick off this next section of our trip.


Our AirBnB was located in the Kiso Valley region but not too far from a central town. By the time we arrived it was dark, but we could still see the outline of the mountains. Our host said that it always snows on the 18th of October but for the first time he could remember, it was late. It was still remarkably cold and we needed to rug up. We thought the AirBnB was going to be way more remote than it was so we stocked up on servo snacks.


We went straight to bed as we were quite tired from the day and intended to get up before the sun the next day.


Day six


Today we left our AirBnB before the sun. We were sad to have spent such little time there and regret not finding an extra day. The Kiso valley is such a vast area with so much to see and do. We drove to Magome, one of the main postal towns in the Kiso Valley. The sun was just rising as we arrived at the town and there was not a car or soul in sight. We were planning to walk from Magome to Tsugamo which was a moderately difficult 3 hour (8km) walk through the beautiful mountains. Usually you would find small village shops along the route but as we started so early, they were still closed. So why did we start so early? Unfortunately the bus only comes to Tsugamo a few times a day and to maximise our day, we had to start early enough to make the 10:15am bus back to Magome. This decision ended up being the best as when we arrived back the town was swarming with people and tour buses. The empty carparks were full and people were desperately circling for a spot. We couldn’t even get breakfast/ lunch in the town as it was all booked out. 


The trail was entirely quiet with only one other hiker seen. This was such an incredible walk with breathtaking scenery, and views of small untouched villages. We didn’t go to Kyoto this time, but I would definitely recommend this area instead of Kyoto if you are seeking a more ‘traditional’ Japan experience. 


We headed into a town just 15 minutes away from Magome and got the best burgers from a small shop called ‘tocoro burger’. The chef spoke great English and had mentioned that he lived in Brisbane for a year to learn English in 2005. We had a great chat before hitting the road again to the Fuji region. Unfortunately the weather turned and we were left with miserable rain and fog meaning that our dream sunset over Fuji was impossible. We drove around the Hakone turnpikes (if you like super hair-raising windy roads, this is one of them). We then headed to the hotel and had an early night as we were quite tired from our morning walk and long drive.



Favourite food spot


  • We loved ‘tocoro burger’. The burgers were sooooo juicy and full not to mention how chatty and lovely the staff were


Top tips


  • You could spend so much time here, so definitely dedicate more time than we did to make the most out of it.


  • Pre-book restaurants if you are wanting to eat the traditional food of the region in Magome (Soba noodles), everywhere was packed and booked out (don’t forget to arrive early to get parking)



Places I would go to if we visited again


  • Narai (another of the Postal towns) was the richest back in the day
  • Go kayaking on Lake Ontake
  • Visit the Atera Valley


A scenic hiking trail through a lush forest with sunlight filtering through yellow autumn leaves and a rocky stream.
A person stands on a forest trail beside a calm reflective lake surrounded by dense evergreen trees.
Mossy rocks and fallen leaves create a serene forest scene with dappled sunlight filtering through dense tree canopy.
A scenic waterfall cascades down moss-covered rocks in a lush green forest setting.
Two people pose playfully in front of an aquarium display sign with Japanese text at night.
A couple sharing playful moments outdoors on a cloudy day with mountains in the background.
Japanese text panels and signage displayed in what appears to be a museum or gallery setting.
Aerial view of a small rural Japanese town nestled in mountains with traditional houses and buildings at dusk.
Scenic landscape of terraced rice fields and scattered houses in a mountainous Japanese countryside under cloudy skies.
Stone steps and wooden buildings line a historic street in a traditional Japanese mountain village.
A traditional Japanese stone-paved street lined with historic wooden buildings and lush greenery in Magome post town.
A winding stone pathway meanders through a dense forest of tall evergreen trees.
People taking photographs along a traditional Japanese stone wall and building path.
Delicious hamburgers served on blue plates with potato wedges and cherry tomatoes on a wooden table.
Aerial view of a winding mountain road with hairpin turns through dense forest at dusk.

01 / 15

Fuji


Hotel: Shiki-no-Yado Fujisan (via Booking.com)

Pros: A perfect location (close to all the touristy things)

Cons: Not clean and sooooo uncomfortable- I wouldn’t stay here again.


Day seven


We arrived in Fuji the night before and the bed was sooo bad, you could feel every spring so we were tired and sore. Unfortunately we had another day of rain and such thick fog that you would barely see the road so not what we had hoped for Fuji. 


We changed up our plans and hit up the Gotemba Premium Outlets, which was sooooo huge and had cool discounts on everything from luxury brands to Pokemon merch. This was not originally in our plan but was a fun substitute for the volcano sight-seeing. 


We then left and wanted to try our luck at the ‘Shiraito falls’ which looked so epic in the photos and although we thought the fog had started to lift, by the time we arrived it had thickened again and we didn’t get a full view but from what we saw, it would have been magical on a clear day. 


At this point we had given up on sightseeing and decided to go to a round-1 complex which is a huge sporting complex. These centres are all around Japan and some are even open 24/7. The lower floors have standard arcade games which we enjoyed first. We did some car racing, Maimai (so much fun btw), some dance games and other random games. They had a whole floor of coin pushing games which was actually insane and a little confronting. Considering gambling is illegal, there are so many work arounds including the coin pushing games. Small children on their parents laps dropping coins into these machines for what? We actually have no idea. 


We then did some bowling, after 7pm you can get mega passes that allow you to play unlimited sporting games (bowling, ping pong, darts or more depending on the venue). We however were not there at that time and elected to just go bowling instead. The energy in this bowling rink was insane, so many groups and such great vibes- very different to the sparse alleys in Sydney. They played these random games where the lights went out and whoevers turn it was got the chance to bowl for a prize, anyone who got a strike got a prize. It was just such a random, fun initiative and just created a whole heap of excitement for anyone who was there at the time.


Round 1 completely changed the vibe of the day from disappointing to still fun.


That night we stopped into a random skewer bar (Izakaya restaurant) called Shogun Yakitori (将軍). We had to order a drink each and then we were allowed skewers. They mainly had chicken options so we ordered 1 of each of the top 6- these included stomach, thigh, gizzards, heart and liver. Honestly they were all great apart from the liver which was such a gross texture (I couldn’t get past it). The perfect meal to round out our stay here.



Favourite food spot


  • Shogun Yakitori (将軍). This Yakitori bar was small but had an english menu and the food was excellent. You haven’t experienced Japan until you go to a bar like this (even if you don’t drink).


Top tips


  • We were meant to have 2 days in Fuji but the weather was rubbish so we left earlier. I wish we went to Tokyo after Fuji so if there was a clear day we could have come back for a day trip but unfortunately Nikko (our next destination) was so far away that it just wouldn’t have been feasible.


  • You can actually see the Mt Fuji visibility forecast here. This will help you decide if it is worth the trip or if you should swap days around- I wish I knew about it earlier.



Places I would go to if we visited again


  • Mt Fuji great dream bridge
  • Lake Shoji
  • Oshino Hakkai (Eight Seas of Oshino)
  • Chureito Pagoda (best at sunset)
  • Oishi Park
  • Mt Fuji Distant Worship Site (for the photo)


Three smartphone screens held up against a scenic mountain landscape showing panoramic nature views through their displays.
Misty waterfalls cascade down lush green cliffs in a tropical rainforest setting creating a serene natural landscape.
A person wearing a pink beanie eats a meal at a wooden counter in a dimly lit restaurant setting.

01 / 03

Nikko


Hotel: Hatago Nagomi (via Booking.com)

Pros: A perfect location | Comfortable | Natural outside Onsen | Best food | Best service

Cons: Cons don’t exist (maybe accessibility if you can’t walk up stairs)


Day eight


This morning we left Fuji and made a B-line towards Nikko, our final destination and boy was it the perfect place to end our trip on a high. We drove straight to the main town of Nikko in Kamihatsuishimachi. This town at the bottom of the mountain sat alongside the stunning Daiya river. We wandered the streets and found the Rinnoji Temple and Rin’nōji Houmotsuden treasure house. We elected to not go in as they seemed quite crowded and instead walked along the free mossy paths instead. We ended up stopping at the iconic and famous Shinkyō Bridge which crossed over the Daiya river. This ornamental bridge has an entry fee for photos which probably isn’t worth paying unless you are shooting from the road and you have a decent camera (luckily we did). This region was already so stunning even though it didn’t quite have the popping autumn colours we were hoping for.


We headed to a restaurant close by for lunch which was a small family run place that served Nikkos famous Yuba dishes. Yuba is basically tofu skin and it was better than it probably sounds. They were so accommodating with our allergies, taking out bits and pieces that we wouldn’t be able to eat. We had allergy cards made which really helped us communicate in more rural regions where not much english is spoken.


We rounded out our time in the particular spot by visiting the Kanmangafuchi Abyss which was much quieter than the rest of the town, but just as iconic. There were statues of Jizo (a Bodhisattva who cares for the deceased) that lined the path beside the raging gorge. 


There wasn’t too much to see other than the statues but I would definitely say it is a worthwhile stop which has some interesting lore that you can read in english on the signage along the path.


We then drove up the mountains which was just a magical drive as we drove into the most magnificent autumn orange and red leaves that covered the mountainside. Our accommodation overlooked Lake Chūzenji with lake views from our room. This accommodation was on the pricey side but we got a really good deal and all of our meals were included. 


We made use of the natural outdoor spring onsen which I believe had sulfur minerals in it and it really was quite the experience. Tattoos were allowed which was perfect as most other hotel onsens didn’t allow them and I have a few small tattoos. 


The dinner provided was served in a dining space and it was a 5 course traditional meal showcasing some of Nikko's finest and freshest local produce. On our first night we had salted salmon, tempura vegetables, pickled vegetables and yuba as an appetizer, we were then given a plate of sashimi featuring salmon, tuna and a white fish all caught in the local lake. We also had a small wagyu steak, a selection of veggies, a small bowl of mushroom noodles and then a plate of bite sized deserts including matcha cake and mochi. It was truly a fine dining experience. 


With full bellies we headed straight to bed.



Day nine


After 3 days of rain, we woke up to a clear sky and headed out as the sun was rising to check out some of the local sights before the day tripping tourist buses rolled in. Our first stop was the lovely Ryuzu cascades which was a small walk to view a waterfall that flowed beside the most gorgeous spectrum of red, orange, yellow and green autumn leaves. 


This view got us hyped for the day and we popped back into the hotel for a buffet breakfast. We then had to go and see the Kegon falls which is famous for its elevator that goes from the top to the base of the waterfall. It was 9:30 and the crowds were already starting with school groups coming to visit. The waterfall was huge and had a beautiful rainbow as the morning light hit it. Although this is one of the biggest touristy things, I would say it was totally worth it. This waterfall would easy make my top 5 and I have seen many waterfalls in the last few years of travel.


Knowing how busy Nikko get’s during the day, we decided to do a little roadtrip to a seaside town to visit a famous garden called the ‘Hitachi Seaside Park’. This park is huge and a great place to go dog watching. Although very big, the gardens have different sections in bloom depending on the season. Our visit was perfect to see the Kochia plants on Miharashi Hill. These red bushes almost look like they are from a Dr Suess book and I personally found them quite magical.


This was our last day in the Toyota as we intended to pick up a sports car for the final 24 hours. We realised that the sports car would not fit all of our luggage so we had to frantically find a solution. Luckily our hotel staff helped us organise a luggage shipping service that sent one of our bags to the airport. We packed all the clothes we didn’t need and any of the bits and pieces we had picked up as gifts and sent it away.


For dinner we had another epic feast including sashimi again, pickled & tempura veggies, figs and cheese with the main dish being a traditional meat stew with thin slices of wagyu (very similar to sukiya. Our dessert was a mini cake, mochi and a selection of fruit & sweet potato.



Day ten


Today was the day that we had to drive to Noda (near Tokyo) to drop off our Toyota and pick up the FAIRLADY Z 380ＲS (Z33) from OMOSHIRO RENT-A-CAR Noda. I don’t really know what all those fancy letters mean but I do know it was an old fancy Japanese race car.  We got the paperwork sorted, and drove out. We quickly pulled into a Maccas carpark to connect the audio and as we went to leave the carpark…. Smoke from the hood. OMG! 


I was freaking out as we pulled onto the highway. We hoped it would settle down and it was nothing but unfortunately it just got hotter and hotter and the smoke just wouldn’t stop. 10 minutes after we drove out of the yard, the coolant pipe burst… It would only happen to a Kisso.


We pulled to the side of the highway, people speeding past at 120km as we tried to get a sim working our phone so we could call for help. Luckily some highway maintenance workers saw us and stopped creating a safety zone for us. We were lucky enough that they contacted the shop and a tow truck for us. 


The tow truck driver gave us a lift to the office. We thought we were going to have to pay some crazy amount of money but the staff were so kind and instead offered us another vehicle and were very apologetic as they knew it wasn’t our fault. We drive out with a much newer NISSAN FAIRLADY Z (RZ34). It was actually a much more comfortable car, less unique and special but honestly a much better time for me personally.


We had plans to drive up to the Bandai-Azuma Skyline but with all the issues, we didn’t leave until after 1:30pm and it just wasn’t possible anymore. Instead we went back to Nikko which ended up being epic. We took some amazing sunset car photos and drone footage which was so much fun and we definitely would have missed some beautiful secret spots around Nikko if we had made the crazy drive up further. 


We had our final dinner in Nikko and headed to bed.



Day eleven


We enjoyed a bit of a sleep-in and had breakfast before checking out. We drove to some spots around the lake to take more photos of the car which was actually a heap of fun before starting the drive back to Noda.




Favourite food spot


OUR HOTEL WAS SOOOOO GOOD and they did 5 course dinners every night included


Top tips


  • When you are hiring a car, make sure you have roaming or a sim card that allows you to make or receive calls in an emergency because we only had data and it made life really hard when something went wrong


  • Use a luggage transfer service on your final days to send luggage that you won't need to access to the airport. This means that you don’t have to worry about carrying multiple big bags onto busy public transport. We used Yamato 


  • Driving can be really exhausting so try and balance out your days with driving days followed by local only days.


A traditional red Japanese bridge spans a misty river surrounded by lush autumn foliage in Nikko, Japan.
Aerial view of a parking lot surrounded by vibrant autumn foliage in orange, yellow and green trees.
A figure stands among vibrant red kochia bushes in a Japanese autumn garden landscape.
Scenic mountain lake view at sunset with snow-capped peaks and autumn foliage in the foreground.
Red-robed statues covered in moss line a stone path through a lush forest in Japan.
Two people pose together on a foggy day near a red bridge railing in a park setting.
Blue sports car parked beneath vibrant orange autumn trees next to a concrete barrier in a parking area.
A sleek blue Ferrari Roma sports car parked on an autumn road with golden foliage overhead.
A panoramic view of a traditional Japanese temple complex with red and green buildings nestled among trees.
Aerial view of a winding mountain road surrounded by vibrant autumn foliage in yellow and orange hues.
Aerial view of a winding road cutting through vibrant autumn forest with yellow and green foliage.
Scenic panoramic view of vibrant red kochia bushes stretching across rolling hills during autumn season in Japan.
A person wearing a white top and burgundy tulle skirt twirls in front of vibrant red autumn foliage.
Blue sports car parked on mountain road at sunset with scenic mountain range in background.
A vibrant field of pink and red kochia scoparia plants creates a stunning autumn landscape in Japan.
Vibrant orange maple leaves frame a bright autumn sky with delicate branches creating a natural canopy.
Rushing waterfall cascades down rocky terrain surrounded by vibrant autumn foliage in a mountainous landscape.
A cascading waterfall surrounded by vibrant autumn foliage and mossy rocks in a Japanese forest.
A person in red clothing walks along a mossy forest trail with bright green foliage surrounding them.
Multiple plates of Japanese cuisine arranged on a dark wooden table with decorative placemats.
Overhead view of Japanese restaurant table settings with multiple dishes and plates arranged in a row.
Photographer in pink sweater holding camera poses along autumn road with vibrant orange foliage in background.
Majestic Kegon Falls cascades down rocky cliffs surrounded by autumn foliage in Nikko National Park, Japan.

01 / 23

Tokyo


Hotel: hotel MONday Haneda Airport (via Booking.com)

Pros: Close to airport trainline and offers free shuttles

Cons: The 5:10 & 6:10 shuttle buses book out quickly so you need to check in and book early


Day eleven continued


After dropping the car back, we had a complex commute on multiple trains to get to our final hotel in Tokyo. Our flight back was very early in the AM so it was easier to book a hotel close by instead of stressing. We had to make the most of our final night and decided to visit the Snoopy museum. What a special experience as a huge snoopy lover, it was really amazing to be able to see the development and universe of snoopy across multiple floors.


We then decided to do all our last minute snack and souvenir shopping around Shibuya (Don Quijote & some obscure lolly shop we found on reddit) and headed back to our hotel to pack and sleep.


A creative wall installation shows a sequence of line drawings with chairs arranged to create an illusion of movement.
A person in jeans and burgundy shirt stands against wall of Snoopy plush toys at retail store display.
A series of photos showing a large white Snoopy statue display in what appears to be a shopping mall or public space.

01 / 03

Final thoughts


I have now been to Japan in Winter, Spring and Autumn and I honestly think that this has been my favourite season. The cherry blossoms in spring are gorgeous but it is just sooooo busy everywhere. I found this time to be much quieter and the perfect temperature. Japan is such a beautiful place and exploring places other than Tokyo, Osaka, Fuji, Kyoto and Hiroshima is a great way to combat over-tourism but also get a true sense of the culture through different regions, foods, history and nature.


My favourite place was Nikko, it was just stunning with the autumn leaves and so peaceful. I don’t feel as if I would go back through as we really did see everything it had to offer. I think this will be my last trip to Japan for a long time. I am excited to spread my wings and visit new places and even explore my own backyard here in Australia.